28 May 2008

15 May 2008

I saw the latest lot of varsity grads doing their usual parade around Wlg CBD during lunch time today. Lovely, with lots of pretty young things and tired old things, wearing the traditional graduate robes.

Was that how I’d looked like when I graduated too? In those robes?

Then I remembered. For some strange reason, me and my good friend S, who both graduated at the same time and in the same subjects, decided we wouldn’t dress up in those mouldy old robes and have our photos taken. While the rest of our batchmates took centrestage and received certs awarded by Madras University, we sat on the sidelines (and sulked?) and picked up our certs later.

You ask me why we did that? For the life of me, I cannot remember what that reason was!!!

Another tag, but they’re mostly no-brainers, so here goes. Oh, I got this from Shyam’s blog.

The rules are:

1. After reading my answers, copy and paste the list into your blog.

2. Change my one-word responses with yours (but I have used two words, you’re not allowed to!).

3. Publish your blog post.

4. Send me a link on my comments box.

If you get something out of a vending machine, it's most likely to be: chocolate/chips;-)A word you sometimes catch yourself misspelling: focusedYou least want people to see you as: dumbYou're a little scared of: creepy-crawlies (that counts as one word, hopefully)The least attractive thing you do in your sleep: SnoreThe number of contacts in your cell phone: HeapsHow many of them are restaurants: NoneYou lose your cool when someone: shoutsWhen you go to the drugstore, you often can't leave without buying: somethingYour dance moves can best be described as: gracelessThe majority of your underwear is: ewwwwwwwwwSomething you eat even though you hate how bad it is for you: sweetsYou think you're really not a great: teacherHow much cash is in your wallet right now: $1The majority of your shoes are this color: BlackYou don't think you'll ever be able to get rid of your: accentIf your breath is bad, it's most likely because you had: garlic/milkYou feel embarrassed when you: stammerThe last public place where you used the restroom: railway station?Something you don't like to debate in mixed company: religionYou don't think you can pull off wearing: evening dressesSomething you own entirely too much of:clothesSomeone you would love to see in concert who might bring down your street cred: DunnoThe last thing that you spilled on yourself: rasamIf you were on a reality show, the producers would likely portray/characterise you as the: nerd (yay, nerds are cool)

1 May 2008

Yesterday evening, I was belting along the motorway at 100k+, listening to an old tape that was playing in the car – ARR’s Vande Mataram (the original version). And suddenly, out of the blue, I was swept away by a wave of nostalgia and longing so strong, it brought tears to my eyes.

Was I homesick, now, more than eight years away from India? And if that was indeed homesickness, what was I pining for? Family, friends, food, faves? Or was I merely being nostalgic because I associated that Vande Mataram with happy childhood memories of All India Radio playing the same tune? Or was it just the effect of impending winter on an already-tired person? Or maybe it is just that the the tune of Vande Mataram is quite poignant?

I did some soul-searching but just couldn’t come up with any satisfactory answers. Whatever it was (and it lasted a few minutes), it was so unexpected. And it convinced me that you can take the Indian out of India, but you can’t take the India out of the Indian.

I don’t expect everyone and anyone who reads this to agree, but I do wonder: have any of you experienced a similar feeling brought on by some such incident/happening? And what was the explanation you were able to come up for this happening? Do share and enlighten me.